Craig Moore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Craig Moore

Moore in 2008 playing for Queensland Roar
Personal information
Full name	Craig Andrew Moore
Date of birth	(1975-12-12) 12 December 1975 (age 49)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
1991	North Star
1992–1993	AIS
1993–1994	Rangers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1998	Rangers	74	(5)
1998–1999	Crystal Palace	23	(3)
1999–2005	Rangers	100	(9)
2005	Borussia Mönchengladbach	13	(1)
2005–2007	Newcastle United	25	(0)
2007–2009	Brisbane Roar	57	(3)
2010	Kavala	11	(1)
2010	Brisbane Strikers	0	(0)
2011	Werribee City
Total		303	(22)
International career
1991	Australia U17	8	(0)
1992–1993	Australia U20	24	(0)
1996–1998	Australia U23	8	(1)
2004	Australia Olympic (O.P.)	3	(0)
1995–2010	Australia	52	(3)
Medal record Representing  Australia Men's Association football FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze 2001 Yokohama OFC U-23 Championship Winner 1996 Adelaide OFC U-17 Championship Winner 1991 Napier
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Craig Andrew Moore (born 12 December 1975) is an Australian former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position. His profile for the 2006 FIFA World Cup described him as a tough and calm player.

Moore grew up in Doonside, a suburb of western Sydney. He played for the Doonside Hawks Soccer Club. He is well-known for playing two times with the Scottish club Rangers. He played 252 games for the Glasgow-based club between 1993 and 2005. He also spent a season in England with Crystal Palace.

During his time at Rangers, Moore became team captain. He won many league and cup titles. In the 2002–03 season, he played 44 games and scored four goals, helping Rangers win three major trophies. He was a key defender for Rangers until 2004.

After leaving Rangers in 2005, Moore played for German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. He then moved to English Premier League club Newcastle United. After two seasons with injuries, Moore returned to Australia. He joined Queensland Roar (now Brisbane Roar) in the A-League, becoming their captain and a special "Marquee player." In 2010, he moved to Greek club AO Kavala.

Craig Moore played over 50 games for the Australia national team. He played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup. He first played for Australia in 1995 and was captain several times.

Early Life and Football Start

Craig Moore was born in Canterbury, New South Wales. He grew up in Doonside. When he was thirteen, his family moved to Brisbane. He played junior football there with North Star.

Later, he received a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport. While at the Institute, Moore became friends with Mark Viduka. They had known each other since they were teenagers.

A coach named Eddie Thomson helped Moore become a professional footballer. Thomson taught him to play as a centre-back. This became the main position Moore played throughout his career. Manager Walter Smith also agreed that centre-back was his best position. Smith noted that Moore was "mobile and clever."

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Rangers (First Time)

Moore joined the Rangers youth team in 1993. He made his first team debut for Rangers on 5 April 1994. It was a 0–0 draw against Dundee United.

In the 1994–95 season, manager Walter Smith included Moore in the first team. He played as a right-back. Moore scored his first goal for Rangers on 24 September 1994. Rangers won the league for the seventh year in a row that season. Moore played 25 games and scored two goals.

For the 1995–96 season, Moore continued to play for the first team. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Aberdeen on 7 October 1995. He faced some injuries and also played for Australia. He made 16 appearances that season. Rangers won the league for the eighth time in a row and also the Scottish Cup.

Moore recovered from an injury and returned to play in September 1996. He often played as a centre-back or in midfield. He helped Rangers win the Scottish League Cup final against Hearts. He scored his first goal of the 1996–97 season on 1 March 1997. Rangers won the league for the ninth time in a row that season. Moore played 31 games and scored once.

In the 1997–98 season, Moore continued to play for Rangers. He made 17 appearances in all competitions.

Time at Crystal Palace

On 29 September 1998, Moore joined Crystal Palace. He was reunited with his former Australian national team manager, Terry Venables.

Moore played his first game for Crystal Palace on 17 October 1998. It was a big 5–1 win against Norwich City. In his next game, he scored his first goal for the club. He scored two more goals in the following matches. Moore played most of the 1998–99 season for Crystal Palace. He made 24 appearances and scored three goals.

Back to Rangers (Second Time)

On 31 March 1999, Moore returned to Rangers. He scored in his first game back, but then got a knee injury. This kept him out for the rest of the 1998–99 season. He made 12 appearances and scored once.

For the 1999–00 season, Moore recovered from his injury. He helped Rangers qualify for the UEFA Champions League. He played well with his defensive partner, Lorenzo Amoruso. Moore scored his first goal of the season against Valencia in October 1999. He scored two more goals that season. He made 39 appearances and scored three goals. He helped Rangers win the Scottish Cup.

Moore was a strong candidate to become captain for the 2000–01 season. He captained his first game for Rangers in July 2000. However, he suffered another knee injury that kept him out for seven months. He returned in March 2001. He made six appearances that season.

In the 2001–02 season, Moore worked to regain his place in the team. He played in the first five games of the season. He scored two goals with headers in December 2001 and February 2002. He helped Rangers win the Scottish Cup final against Celtic. He made 29 appearances and scored three goals.

For the 2002–03 season, Moore was a key defender for Rangers. He helped the team keep six clean sheets in a row. He scored two goals in October and November 2002. He also scored against rivals Celtic in December. Moore played a big part in the Scottish League Cup final. He helped Rangers win 2–1 against Celtic. On the last day of the season, Rangers won the league. Six days later, they won the Scottish Cup final, completing a "domestic treble" (winning three major trophies). Moore played 44 games and scored four goals.

Before the 2003–04 season, Moore was named the new captain of Rangers. However, he suffered a hamstring injury early in the season. He returned in September 2003. He scored two goals that season. He then got another knee injury that ended his season early. He made 25 appearances and scored two goals.

In the 2004–05 season, Moore's future at Rangers was uncertain. He was removed as captain and put on a transfer list. He made six appearances before leaving the club. Overall, Moore won 12 major trophies with Rangers, including five league championships.

Playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach

Moore joined German club Borussia Mönchengladbach on 3 January 2005. He scored a header in his first game, a 1–0 win. He became a regular player. He left the club after a disagreement with the management. He made 13 appearances and scored one goal.

Time at Newcastle United

On 30 July 2005, Moore signed a two-year deal with Newcastle United. This was his first time playing in the Premier League.

Moore played his first competitive game for Newcastle on 22 March 2006. He scored a goal in an FA Cup match against Yeading. Injuries affected his time at Newcastle. He only played eight league games in the 2005–06 season.

In the 2006–07 season, Moore worked to regain his fitness. He became a regular player again, forming a strong defensive partnership. He captained Newcastle for the first time in November 2006. However, he suffered a torn hamstring injury. He struggled to get back into the team after that. He made 17 league appearances that season.

Newcastle United released Moore on 16 May 2007. He made 31 appearances for the club.

Playing for Brisbane Roar

On 25 July 2007, it was announced that Moore had signed with Queensland Roar (now Brisbane Roar). He became their special "Marquee" player and was named captain.

Moore's first game for Queensland Roar saw him sent off. After a one-game suspension, he returned to play. He helped Queensland Roar finish fourth in the league. He made 21 appearances that season. For his strong performance, he won the Gary Wilkins Medal (Player of the Year).

In the 2008–09 season, Moore scored his first goal for the Roar in October 2008. His season was interrupted when he faced a serious health challenge. He returned to play in November 2008 and helped his team win. After getting the all-clear, he scored his second goal in January 2009. He helped the club finish third. He made 23 appearances and scored two goals. He won the Gary Wilkins Medal again.

In the 2009–10 season, Moore scored his first goal in a 1–0 win. He played as a centre-back until he left the club in December 2009. He wanted to move to Europe to improve his chances for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Even though he left on difficult terms, players and the club remember his time fondly. He was even chosen for the Brisbane Roar Ultimate Eleven team.

Time at Kavala

In January 2010, Moore moved to Greek club AO Kavala. He signed an eighteen-month contract. He played his first game for Kavala on 10 January 2010.

His contract with Kavala ended in March 2010. Moore stated he left because he was worried about getting too tired or injured. He wanted to protect his chance to play in the 2010 World Cup.

Later Career and Retirement

Moore signed with Brisbane Strikers in 2010 to stay fit for the World Cup. He also played in a special farewell game for former Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.

In 2011, Moore played for Werribee City. He then quietly announced his retirement from professional football.

After Playing Football

After retiring, Craig Moore became an advisor for Football Australia in May 2013. A year later, he was a football advisor and team ambassador for Australia's World Cup campaign.

On 23 June 2015, Moore returned to Brisbane Roar. He became the club's Football Operations Manager. In this role, he helped sign new players, like Tommy Oar, whom he also mentored. Moore left Brisbane Roar on 16 January 2018.

Moore then started a new career as a football agent.

International Career for Australia

Craig Moore played for various Australian national teams. He made his debut for the senior Socceroos on 21 June 1995. It was a 1–0 win against Ghana. He played in the World Cup qualifiers against Iran. Australia did not qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

On 23 February 2000, Moore played for Australia again after three years. He scored his first goal for the national team in a 3–0 win against Hungary. In 2001, he played in World Cup qualifying matches. He played in games where Australia won by very large scores, like 22–0 against Tonga and 31–0 against American Samoa. He also played in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. Australia won a bronze medal in that tournament. He played in the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, but Australia did not qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Moore captained the Socceroos for the first time on 18 February 2004. This was in a 1–1 draw against Venezuela.

He was also part of the "Olyroos" squad, which is the Australian Olympic Football team, at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He was named captain for the tournament. His leadership helped the team reach the quarter-finals. They were eliminated after losing 1–0 to Iraq.

In May 2006, Moore represented the Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. This was Australia's first World Cup appearance since 1974. Moore played his World Cup debut in a 3–1 win against Japan. He scored a penalty kick against Croatia in a 2–2 draw. This result allowed Australia to move to the round of 16. Australia lost 1–0 to Italy in the knockout stage and was eliminated.

Moore announced his international retirement on 6 February 2008. However, he later announced his return to the national team in September 2008. He played against Qatar in October 2008, helping Australia win 4–0.

In May 2010, he played for the Socceroos in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Moore played in two matches against Germany and Ghana. He was suspended for the next match against Serbia. Australia was eliminated from the tournament despite winning their last game. Moore retired from international football after the 2010 World Cup.

Personal Life

In November 2008, Craig Moore faced a health challenge and had surgery. Six weeks later, he was given the all-clear to return to playing. He said he has regular tests to monitor his health.

In December 2008, Moore was fined for placing small bets on two A-League matches. These matches did not involve his own team. He called it an "honest mistake" and accepted the punishment.

Moore is married to his wife, Heather. They have two children together.

Images for kids

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  Moore in 2008 playing for Queensland Roar

• Craig Moore (cropped).jpg

  Craig Moore playing for Australia in 2006.

Honours

Rangers

• Scottish Professional Football League: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03
• Scottish Cup: 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2002–03
• Scottish League Cup: 1996–97, 2001–02, 2002–03

Newcastle United

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2006

Australia

• Queensland Roar Gary Wilkins Medal: 2007–08, 2008–09
• Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame: 2011
• FFA Team of the Decade: 2000–13
• FFA Team of the Century

See also

In Spanish: Craig Moore para niños